Coal cutting and loading machine



Dec. 18 1923.

F. K. HOLMESTED GOAL CUTTING AND LOADING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet l Filed 061'.. 5, 1922 i z z n z F NQWNNWUMMP.

F. K. HOLMESTED COAL CUTTING AND LOADING DIIACHINEl 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 5, 19122` Z Si? z HJW: d z TW f \M\\ I N\\ I L J b a \M\ n T: s @RJ @NW QQ\v Q N. l I I IIT l l l I I I I I I I Ill m. Nm Wk um@ 'wel I8, 1923.

F. K. HOLMESTED COAL CUTTING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed oct. s, 1922 4 sheets-sheetv 5 l l l I l f I I l I I l l IIIudfII. I I I I I I Dec., I8 1923.

F. K. HOLMESTED GOAL CUTTING. AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1922 4' Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. l, ll9233.,

"cierran stares realtors K. HoLMnsrnn, or onnnnnsron, vfnsr vIRGINIa,

Coen CUTTING nivn' LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed October 3, 1922. Serial No. 592,057.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l., FRANCIS K. HOLME- srnn a subject of the King o1 Great Britain, residing at Charleston7 in the county oit' Kanawha and State of W est Virginia7 A., have invented certa-in new and useful lmprovenientsrin Coal Cutting and Loading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cutting and loading machines adapted for service in mines for cutting and loading coal or other similar material having a natural veinous, ledge or analogous A accessible formation. rlhe present machinel has been particularly devised for cutting and loading coal and constitutes an improvement on the machine disclosed by my pending application filed rlanuary 3, 19207 Serial No. 849,210.

The. object of the improved mechanism is to cut coal from the tace of a vein by a longitudinal movement of the mechanism, which is disposed to travel the full length of the vein and to perform the cutting operation rectilinearly relatively to the vein and automatically load the coal after it -is cut, and thereby complete the mining operation without resorting to other auxiliary appliances.

The present improved machine is essen tially distinguished from the machine disclosed by my pending application above noted in that the cutting mechanism moves at all times in a straight line instead of arcuately swinging, the operation, however, in the improved machine being e'ected in a horizontal plane at various elevations by adjustment of the cutting mechanism.

The impro-ved machine propelsitself by seltcontained power along the track adjacent to amine wall7 and starting at one end of the wall or vein of coal, cuts a horizontal kerf at any elevation desired along the entire length of the wall. rlhe machine is then returned under its own power to the starting point and the cutting receiver raised or lowered as desired and the outting operation similarlyrepeated. After the cuts have been made from top to bottom of a seam, the Cutting receiver carriedy been advanced toits maximum distancerel-y atively to the adjustment or a'djaoency of the track rails tothe mine wall and upon which the machine asia whole is mounted to operate. l/Vhcnthe maximumv extension of the cutting mechanism has been reached and vthe cutting operation completed, the conveyor carrying the cutting mechanism including a receiver' is run back to close cuting part of the latter and is engaged by av breaker at regular intervals to set up a fracture of the out colums relatively to the vein from which they are out. During this breaking operationl the coal continues to pass through the receiver and drops freeL and is held by said receiver and expelled or pushed out from the latter by the incoming or successive charges of coal, the coal being deposited on the conveyor mounted at the rear side of the receiver, and from the latter the coal is carried bythe conveyor to a hopper car7 from which it is in turn delivered to a mine car.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of part of a coalV cutting or loading machine embodying the features of the'invention and which is to be appliedto the top portion or" Fig. l;

Fig. la which is to be applied to the top portion oft' l is a top plan view ot' a part of the conveyor and the cutting mechanism carried thereby and `including the receiver;

Fig. lb is a top plan view or" a continua tion ot part ot the loading' mechanism and from which the cut coal. is Vdelivered into the mine car and applicable to the lett eX- tremity of Fig. l;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the inner side'o'l a portion of the machine;

, F ig. 2a is a side elevation'of a part of the loading` mechanism to he applied to the right-hand extremity of Fig. 2v;

`Fig. 3 is a rear side elevation of the receiver and conveyor together with part of the mechanism cooperating therewith;

Fig. 4 is a section ion the line 4 4, Fig. 3,

. on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5, Fig. la;

Fig. 6 is an outline plan view on a reducedv scale showing the entire machine and its vre- Y Vlation to the wall of material to be cut and also itsV rectilinear` movement;

The main support of the improved machinejconsists of a receiving hopper or hopper c'ar `5 provided with suitab-le axles 6 and flanged track wheels/7 toengage track rails `8 and freely ymovableover the'latter. The hopper or hopper car 5is shaped similarly to coal hoppers, but in the present instance' has a permanentlyclosed bottom portion 9 which is horizontally extended over the `axles 6to provide a supporting frame 10 under the inclined ends 11 of the hopper for various .j mechanical devices which will be Y presently explained. Secured to the bottom 9 of the hopperon opposite sides of the cen- Y ter are guidebeams 12 having theinner op-V posed sides formed with grooves 13 to loosely and movably receive j correspondingly shaped side flanges 14 of a sliding frame 15,.V

. which is preferably of open 4structure as shown byrFig. V1, Orhas sidebbars 16 connected andl reinforced as, for instance, Vby Va crossnbar 17, uit being intended torconstruct .the frame 15 in suchjs'trong and durable vmanner as to; resist thestrain imposed thereon during the operation of the improved mechanism. The guide beams 12 are also connected by a cross member 18, which serves asa means for mounting a screw shaft 19 swiveled in thel said member 18, as at 20, The screw threads 21 of the shaft 19 Vengage the cross bar 17 of the frame 15 to feed the latter frame forwardly and rearwardly inaccordance ywith the direction of rotation of the said shaft. The threads 21 are formed on the shaft 19 a distance which will permit maximuinv'forward and rearward movements of the frame 15 in accordance Vwith a predetermined arrange-` ment; On theframe l10 under .the rear inclined ends of the hopper or hopper car 5 is a suitable electric motor 22 having its armature shaft 23Vprojected laterally, or towards the outer side of the said hopper a suiiicient distance to operatively receive al sprocket wheel 24, and on the samejframe 10 at a distance. from the motor and further under the adjacent'inclined end of the hopper 5 a drive shaft 25is4 also mountedin suitable bearings and provided with a sprocket wheel 26 in Yalinement with the sprocket,

wheel 24 on the said armature shaft 23, the

two sprocket wheels 24l and 26 being engaged by, yor having trained thereover, an endless chain belt 27. The drive shaft 25 extends completelyvacross the supporting'frame 10 and outwardly a short distance at each end beyond the front and rear side of the hopper or hopper car 5, and on its rear end is loosely mounted a' sprocket Wheel 28 having a clutch member 29, and adjacent to Vthe latter member andrkeyedto the said shaft 25 to rotate therewith is a vsliding clutchfmember 30 .which is operated by suitable lever mechanism 31 projecting outwardly and upwardly along the rear side of the hopper 5 to throw the said sprocket wheel` 28 into andY Y a pinion 34 loosely mounted tliereonwand held inV continual engagement with a gear V85 keyed to theadjacent axle 6. `rlhe pinion 34 is provided atV its4 rear sideV withr a.

clutch member 36, andL keyed'to the shaft y 25 Vand slidable thereon byV suitablelever mechanism 37a is avclutch collar V37 which is adapted to engageA the clutchrmember 36' of fthe pinion 84 and ltransmit the mo-f tion of the sli-aft 25 tothe said pinion 34V and from the latter to 4the gear 35 Vito' drive car 5 to move in opposite directionsV over the track railsl inV accordance with the reverse movements of the armature shaft 23'of the vthe axles 6 and cause the hopper orhopper Y Y motor 22, said reverse movementsbeing effected'by well known means Vin this Yclass of motors. Y v j Y. Y

@n the inner side of the upper portion of Ythe hopper or hopper car 5 abracket sup-V poit 38 is secured and has depending bear-V ings 39, in which a short powertransmittlng shaft 40 is mounted to rotate and carries fr? thereon a gear 41 vhaving side flanges 42,V a driving sprocket 43V beingsecured on the said shaft and in line with a sprocket 44 on the end ofthe sliaft25 opposite that'carryy ing the sprocket 28, or on the,forwardjendV of said shaft 25. VEngaging the sprockets or sprocket wlieels'4`3( and 44 isa Vchain belt 45, .and bythis Vconnected mechanism the shaft 40 is regularly drivenfrom the shaftv 25 to operate the gear 41 atthe proper rate of speed. Y inwardly projecting clutch member 46, and adjacent to .this clutch member aV clutch .,collar'47 is mounted on" the shaft 25 and operated by suitable shifting leveiwmecha nisin 48 at the side of tlielhopper or hopper car 5,?tlie clutch 'collar 47beingkeyedl toY kthe. shaft 25 and adapted toltransmit the motion of the latter tothe rclutch member n v 46 and operate the sprocket Awheel 44 and in turn through the chain or endless belt `45 y actuate the.` sprocket 'wheel43 on `the shaft'V V.40. Below the sha-ft 40`and vheld in 'suit-V able bearings ,49 and 50 respectively supported by the extension ofthe bottom 9'Vof Ther sprocket wheel l44 has an the hopper or hopper car and the slide frame l5 a power transmitting shaft 5l is mounted and has free sliding movement through the bearing 49, and on this shaft is a slidable pinion 52 which is held in continual mesh with the gear 4l on the shaft 40 above. Mounted on the front extremity of the slide frame and disposed on a suitable cross connecting member 53 thereof is a sprocket 54 fixed to a stub shaft 55 rising from the support 53, the top portion of the sprocket or sprocket wheel 54 being provided with a beveled pinion 56 attached thereto .and in continual mesh with a corresponding bevel pinion 57 on the forward end of the shaft 5l in advance of the bearing 50. At a suitable distance in advance of the sprocket wheel 54 and pinion 56 and movably mounted on suitable bearings on the forward ends of the side members of the frame l5 are sprocket wheels 58 and 59 with screw spindles GO rising from the center of and rotatable with the said sprocket Wheels. Engaging or trained over the sprocket wheels 54, 58 and 59 is an endless chain belt 6l, and by means of this mechanism the screw spindles 60 are rotated in either one of two directions in accordance with the direction of rotation of the shaft 5l controlled by the actuation ofthe shaft through the sprocket wheel 43 and gear 4l and pinion 52 from the driving shaft 25 by means of a chain belt 45 engaging the sprocket 44 and sprocket 43, the reverse movement being attained by changing the direction of movement of the said shaft 25 through a reversal of the driving motor 22.

@n the bracket support 88 upright bearings -63 are secured for a roller shaft 64, and projecting inwardly from the upper eatremity of each of these bearings 63 is a confining anti-frictional roller 65. The roller shaft (S4 and the confining anti-frictional roller G5 are adapted for cooperation with opposite l-beams 66 of a conveyor 67, said l-beams forming the side members of the conveyor and the latter provided with an endless belt 68 having flights o9 at regular intervals and opposite endless chain belts As shown by Figs. 2 and 3, side flanges 7 0 project upwardly from the -beams 66 forming the side members of 'the conveyor G7, said flanges serving as guards to prevent overflow of the material passing over the conveyor. Screw collars 7l are secured to the opposite sides of the conveyor,

or Vthe l-beams 66, and are freely movableV on the screw spindles for the purpose of raising and lowering the conveyor and the parts attached thereto. The bottoms of the lower flanges of the .'l-beams 66 loosely rest on the opposite ends between the bearings anti-frictional rollers the upper sides 823, and the confining are adapted to enof the outer portions of the roller shaft 64' of the bottom flanges of the said I-beams, as at 52, to movably retain the conveyor inY engagement with the said roller shaft. By assembling the lll-beams G6 of the conveyor with the roller shaft 64 as just explained, said conveyor is given a fulcrum mounting, and in addition to free longitudinal sliding movement over t1 e roller shaft, the said conveyor may b freely swung to raise and lower it at varying angles in accordance with the adjustment desired. rhrough the actuation of the shaft 5l. and the bevel pinion 57, the bevel p lon and sprocket wheel 541; will be positively actuated and the movement of the said sprocket wheel 54 is conveyed by the chain belt 6l to the sprocket wheels 58 and 59 and the screw spindles 60 uniformly rotated to equally elevate or depress the opposite sides of the conveyor, the

latter then swinging on the roller shaft 64- f as above noted.

Fixed te the outer end of the Vconveyor is a tubular or cylindrical receiver 72 having a rear closed end 73,V an outer longitudinally straight side 74 and a fully open frontend 75. rlhis receiver is essentially similar to the receiver disclosed by my pending application aforesaid with t ie exception that the outer side wall 74 is longitudinally straight and the inner side wall 76 parallel there-l with so far as this latter wall extends from the fully open front end 75. rlhe out-er extremity of the conveyor the lower portion of the receiver, the latter being essentially circular in cross ysection vwithout any break or flattened structure as in my application hereinbefore mentioned, and the inner side is formedwith a rear guard flange 77 and an intermediate similar flange 78 on opposite sides of the rear outlet opening 79, the top portion of the receiver being cut out a sufficient distance to give aclearance for the passage of the cut coalor material from the receiver directly onto the outer extremity of they conveyor. ln other words, the outer extremity of the conveyor projects a sufficient distance to tangentially intersect the lower arcuate bottom of the receiver 72, as clearly shown by Fig. 3,

and by this means a quick release of the cut'A coal or material from the receiver-may be obtained. rlhe guard flanges 77 and 78 also serve to prevent an overflow of the cut coal or material passing through the rear discharge opening 79 of the receiver onto the conveyor belt 68. The receiver 72 in the present instance is also provided with a breaker 80, similar in construction and operation to the breaker disclosed by my application hereinbefore specified' and consisting of an oscillating arcuate plate or member 8O fulcrumed at an intermediate point, as at 8l, at the upper and lower edges thereof and partially movable through an opening 82 as shown by Fig. 4. A part of this breaker, or

G7 continues over lintervals break the latter, or cause a disjointure thereof relatively to the vein from vwhich the successive'columns are cut, and by VVi5 "this means a continuous cutting operation may be effected in a straight line throughout the wholeV length ofa vein or seam and the ycolumns broken at intervals to give way for the successive injection of cut andunbroken columns into the receiver. rI he cutv coal or material entering the receiver operates also to `push out the preceding charges, or any coal that may remain accumulated in the receiver, the coal from the receiver being pushed through the rear discharge opening 7 9 onto the conveyor belt 68 and bythe latter carried backwa'rdlyY intov the hopper or hopper car. The breaker 80 has a reduced member 83 at its rear end adjacent to and extending partiallyV over the rear end 73 of the receiver and is continually engaged by a flat spring 841- which operates to press the rear 'reduced end 83 inwardly towards the rear end ofthe receiver and the opposite end ofthe breaker outwardly. As in myapplicatioii hereinbefore noted, means are provided for giving the breaker a reciprocating movement at predetermined intervals, said means consist- Y ing ofv a vertically reciprocating wedge 85,

as shown by Fig. 4, said wedge extending upwardly between the reduced extremity 83 and the adjacent curved rear end 73 of the receiver. The lower end of the wedge is eccentrically attached to a crank disk 86 mounted on ythe free end of a short countershaft 87 held by abearing 88 atV the bottom of one side 'of the forward extremity of the receiver or by one of the I-beams 66. On the shaft 87 'is a worm wheel -89 held in continual mesh with a worm 90 on an extension of the forward shaft 91 mounted between Vthe front ends of the I-beams 66 and carry- Y ing` as usual suitablefsprocket wheels to belts69a ofthe conveyor, these beltsalso' Y 1 so provide idler means for vthe'endless chain engaging suitable sprocketl wheels 92 on a motion transmitting. shaft 93 between the:-

tending along the same side of the conveyor 1 L'and terminating adjacent to the rear side 76 f' of the receiver 72, as shown by Fig. Y1a. The

Vshaft 96 extends adjacentto the bevel pinion 94 beyond its bearing 97 secured to the I-beams 66 and also in an angle bearing comprising tranverse and longitudinal members 98 and 99 having the said longitudinal memyber mounted to swing. VThe shaft 96 is formed with a longitudinal groove`100 extending full length Yof the 'same and at its forward extremity `said shaft is mountedV in `a bearing101 similar to the rear bearing-97 therefor, the bearing 101 being secured to the adjacent part of the side of the 'con- Aveyor where the intermediate guard flange Y Onrthe shaftv 96 adjacent to wardly andoutwardly. The swinging' adjustment of the conveyor is not obstructed` by vthis gear mounting, in view of the fact that the angle bearing comprising the members 98 and 99 is mounted to swing in a manner i which will now be explained. Y

On the supporting frame 10 forming a oontinuation'of the bottom of the hopper or hopper car 5 opposite that upon which the motor 22 is mounted, a supplemental inl! dependently operating motor-1103 isdisposed and has its.V armature shaft 104kl projecting outwardly and provided with a sprocket wheel 1053. 0n the upper front portion of the side of the hopper or hopper car 5 to the riOht of the conveyor, bearings 106 are `secured and have a power transmitting shaft 107 mounted therein, the outerend of this latter sh'aft being provided with a sprocket wheel 108, and over the vlatter sprocket wheel and the-sprocket wheel` 105 on the armature shaft 104: an endless chain or sprocket belt 109 is trained to conveyl the power ofthe supplemental motor 103 to the shaft 107. TheV longitudinal member 99 of the-angle bearing comprising the r`transverse member 98 is mountedV to swing or pivot on .the

ico

shaft 107 iat a distaiiceinwardly 'from the I `innermost bearing 106, and ron the inner terminal of this shaft 107 insiderof thelongitudinal member 99 a bevel. pinion 110 is fixed and held in continual mesh with the bevel pinion 102 through which the shaft 96 is free to slide.fBy.this supplementalA mechanism including the motor 103, ,the

shaft 96 is rotated and the conveyor 68 kregularly actuated in a direction to transfer the coa-l or cut material from the receiver '.72 into the hopper or hopper car v5.

The cutting mechanism iscarried by and forms part of the receiver 72 and consists of a fully open ring cutter 111 having teeth 112 projecting from the edge thereof andV removably held in the ring 111 by set screws Y V 113. The ring 111 has gear teeth 114 cut therein fully around the same-for driving purposes, and as shown by the detail section Fig. 5, the ring 111 Vis rotatably secured to the receiver by a split ring or band ll-which is of the shape shown in this section and f secured by fastening devices 116 to the adjacent part of the receiver, so that the ring may have free rotating movement. The mechanism for continuously rotating the cutting ring or member 111 consists of a pinion 117 mounted o-n the outer end of a short counter shaft 118 held in bearings 119 secured to the rear side 76 of the receiver. 0n the rear end of the shaft 118 is a bevel pinion 12() which is held in continual mesh with a bevel pinion 121 on the outer end of the shaft 96. By this mechanism it will be perceived that the cutting mechanism forming part of the receiver will be regularly rotated to cause the teeth 112 thereof to sever or kerf the coal or other material operated upon by the improved mechanism.

The hopper or hopper car 5 has at it rear end 'an upwardly inclined discharge extension 122, as shown in part by Figs. 2 and 2a,

the said extension merging into a horizon-V tally disposed extremity 123 which stands far enough away and at such a distance above the hopper to permit a mine car to be run thereunder to receive the cut coal from the hopper or hopper car 5. Movable over the extension -122 and its horizontal extremity 123 is a discharge. conveyor 124, which continues downwardly at an angle towards the interior of thel bottom portion of the hopper and engages a guide shaft 125 and sprockets 126 and then continues over through the opposite end of the hopper and engages idler sprockets 127 on sh'aft 128 held in suitable bearings as at 129, (see Fig. 2), secured to the adjacent upwardly inclined bottom wall of the hopper. rlhe discharge conveyor 124 as shown by Fig.` 1 has flights 130 arranged at regular intervals thereover and also endless chain belts 131 'at opposite sides which engage the sprockets 126 and 127 and also sprockets 132 on a power transmitting shaft 133 mounted in the end of the horizontal extremity 123, as clearly shown by Fig. 1". rEhe shaft 133 is projected at one side of the extension 123 and has thereon a sprocket wheel 134 which is engaged by an endless chain belt 135 which extends down to and also engages a sprocket 136 mounted on a short transmitting shaft. 137 held by a suitable bearing 138 attached to the rear side of the hopper or hopper car 5, the shaft 137 having on its outer end a sprocket 139 engaged by an endless ch'ain or sprocket belt 140, which runs under the adjacent portion of the hopper and over a' sprocket 141 loosely mounted on the shaft 25 and having a clutch member 142. rlhe motion of the shaft 25 is transmitted to the clutch member 142 and the sprocket 141 by a clutch collar 143 shiftable on the said sha-ft but held in rotatable engagement with the latter, the shifting adjustment of this clutch collar 143 being accomplished through lever devices 144 operable at the adjacent'side of the hopper or hopper car 5. By the mechanism just explained the conveyor 124 may be operated and continues to operate to discharge the contents of the hop-per or hopper car 5 when the remaining mechanism may be inoperative by disconnecting the remaining clutch devices on the shaft 25 from the operating gears vand sprockets, and whereby the loading operation relatively to mine cars that may be positioned successively under the extension 122 and its horizontal extremity 123 may be rapidly effected.

in placing the improved machine for operation, the track rails 8 are disposed such distance from the mine wall or vein 0r seam to be operated upon as to permit the receiver 72 and conveyor 67 to have a mini-v mum projection, the said receiver and con-` veyor being adjusted rearwardly by the mechanism hereinbefore described and through the operation of the driving or power shaft 25. rlhe hopper or hopper car 5 is then run back to a starting point and the open cutting end of the receiver 72 brought into engagement with the coal seam or vein at the elevation desired to start the cutting operation and the ring 111 is actuated, and at the same time that the receiver .moves lengthwise of the seam or vein the hopper or hopper car 5 synchronously moves through the medium of the power shaft 25. and this operation continues until the cutting operation has been effected throughout the full length of the vein or seam. During the cutting of the coal from the vein or seam, the cut coal enters the receiver 72 in columns and is broken at inconveyor 68 and by the latter transferred to the hopper or hopper car 5 and falls onto the conveyor 124 and by the latter carried rearwardly and upwardly and discharged into a mine car that has been disposed under the discharge extension 122 and its horizontal extremity 123, the operation of the conveyor 124 being effected either after a certain amount of cut coal has been delivered into the hopper or hopper car 5 or at the same time the cutting ring 111 is actuated. These several operations of the parts of the device are readily controllable through the clutch collars and sprockets carrying clutch members, which are all mounted on the shaft 25. As hereinbefore specified, the coal entering the receiver 72 in successive colums or charges operates to expel the preceding columns or charges of coal entering the said receiver, and by this means the receiver is maintained in a free condition for practical operation during the entire movement thereof lengthwise of the'veinv or seam of coal being cut. After the machine has completed its run, or reached the end of the vein or seam', the motor 22 is reversed and the hopper ,orl hopper car caused to return to the starting point and the receiver 7 2 and conveyor. 68 adjusted to similarly cut the coal from the vein or seam immediately above the'location of the previous cut, and this operation is continued until the vertical extent of. the vein or seam has been similarly operated upon. `The conveyor 67 carryingv the receiver 72 is then adjusted to project the requisite distance from the hopper or hopper car 5 and the said receiver under this new adjustment is caused to again cut the coal from the vein or seam at a greater Y depth fully over the vertical extent of the vein. VThis projected adjustment of the conveyor 68 and receiver 72 is continued until the maximum'adjustment or projection is reached, and if a still deeper cut is permissible and required, the track rails 8 are t then movedcloser to the mine wall and the vein'or'seam furtherA cut inthe same manner and by the same adjustments as when start-V ing the lirst cut.

All of the movements and adjustments of 'f-Vthe conveyor 67 andV receiver 72 vare accom,-

c setting the same to form newcuts may be carried on without actuating the cutting mechanism and permitting the latter to be properly set or adjusted before starting the cutting function of the said ring 111 and teeth 112. This independent control of the cutting ring 111 and cutting teeth 112 will materially -save power and render the cutting mechanism more easily controllable and also avoid accidents that might ensue if the cutting mechanism continued to `operate at times when the machine was returning to a starting point, or during otherperiods when it would be unnecessary to have the cutting mechanism in'operation. l

The improved ymechanism is very easily operated andthe mining of coal may be effected thereby at a materially reduced expense and the loading operation facilitated at the same time that the coal is `cut from the vein or seam. lt is also advantageous to havecthe machine run on its own power and to provide `for' operatively distributing the power Jfrom one shaft, and by means of which themechanism is considerably minimized without in the least impairing the effectiveness of a machine of thisclass.

What claimed as new is:

1. A machineof/the class specified, comprisingan enclosing receiver open at its 'front end and provided with cutting mechanism around said open front end and, forming a part thereof, the receiver being closed Vat Aitsl rear end, and means for moving the receiver and cutting means in a rectilinearVV path for cutting material from .theface of a vein in a straight line throughout the length of the vein, the cut material being injectedv into and carried by the receiver in charges and expelled fromthe latter by subsequentV incomingV charges.

2. vA machine of theV class specified comi prising a. receiver with a closed'outer' portion and an open end having cutting means `therearound to cause the material cut to passinto and 'be carried the receiver, and

meansV for moving the receiver inv a' straight line throughout the vlength of the material cut and for operating and simultaneously similarly moving the cutting means to cause the latter to have` a straight vline cutting action throughout the length of the wall of material cut. H

3. A machine of the class speciiied, com.

prising a receiver having an outer closed side portion to move through the material cut and an open cutting end with cutting c means extending around said end, and means for causing the receiver to travel in a rectilinear path the full length Vof the wall of material cut and lcontinue, to cut and have the cut material delivered therefrom during its progress in afstraight line throughoutA the extent of the wall of material engaged thereby. Y '4 11. A machine of the classv specified, 'coin-v prising a receiver having a forward openV end, a rear closed-end, an outer straight closed side and a `discharge opening at' the inner side, the receiver also having open cutjting mechanism at the open endthereot,

and means lor causing the receiver and its cutting mechanism to move lengthwise of and cut material from a wall ina straight line throughout the extent of the said wall engaged thereby.

V5. vA machine of the class specilied, comprising Va receiver having a forward open end, al rear closed end, anrouter straight closed side and a discharge opening at the inner side, the receiver also having open cutting mechanism movable around the open end thereof, and means for .causing the receiver and its cutting mechanism to move and cutvmaterial from a iva-ll ina straight line andy in the ysame horizontal level throughout the extent of the said wallen-F gaged: by the receiver and cutting ineans.

6. A machine of theL class specified., comprising a receiver havinga front open end and the remaining portion forming a carrying enclosure with an outer straight closed sideand inner sidel discharge opening, the. receiver being provided with open cutting mechanlsei et lts Oren and and., marins therewith as a unit, and means for regularly moving the receiver and its cutting means as a unit in a straight line in a horirontal plane reiatively to and in the iace of a vein and having the cut material injected thereinto and discharged from the said inner side discharge opening during the movement of t-he receiver.

7. A machine of the class specified, com prising an enclosing receiver having an open end provided with open cutting mechanism operable therearound, means for moving the receiver and its cutting mechanism as a unit in a rectilinear path in a horizontal plane, and means tor vertically adjusting the receiver and its cutting means as a unit to different elevations to similarly operate relatively to the material to be out.

8. A'machine ot the class specified, comprising a receiver having an open end with open cuttingmeans mounted to operate around the open end of the receiver and uniformly' movable With the receiver progressively in a straight line, a conveyor carrying the receiver at its onteiend and onto which the cut material is discharged from the inner portion of the receiver, and means for uniformly moving the conveyor and the receiver carried thereby in a rectilinear path relatively to the material to be cut.

A machine of the class specified, comp 'isingl a receiver having an open end With open cutting means operably mounted thereand uniformly movable `with the receiver, a conveyor carrying the receiver' at its outer end and onto which the cut materia-l is discharged, means for uniformly moving the conveyor and receiver carried thereby in a rectilinear path relatively to the material to be cut and cause the receiver and cutting means to enter and move in a strai ht line in the material, and means for uniformly elevating the conveyor and receiver with its cutting` mechanism to different elevations relatively to the material to be cut.

1,0. machine of the class specified, comprising a tubular receiver having a front open end and into which the cut material is injected and retained at intervals and discharged therefrom by incoming charges of material, an annular rotary cutter at the open inlet end of the receiver and forming part ofthe latter, means for loosening the cut material injected into the receiver and discharging' said material :trom the latter, and means tor progressively moving the receiver with its cutter in a rectilinear path through the mass of material out and received thereby.

1l. machine of the class specified, comprising a tubular receiver having an outer longitudinally straight side, a rear closed end, a discharge opening at its inner side and a. front open end, an annular rotary yinner cutter mounted and operating on and arc-und the said front open end of the revceiver lor cutting material trom the 'face of a vein in columns Which pass through the cutter into the receiver, means tor loosening the cut columns in the receiver relatively to the vein from which they are cut, means for conveying the cut material away from the receiver, and means more ino' the receiver and conveying me ns rectilinearly with relation to the vein from which the material is cut.

l2. machine of the class, specified, conprising a tubular receiver having a front Open end and the remaining portion thereof closed except a discharge opening at the side thereof, cutting mechan'.J i mounted and movable on the front open end of the receiver, means operating` with the rear portion ot' the receiver for loosen ing the cut material injected thereinto relatively to the vein or seam from which it is cut, and mea-ns for moving the receiver and its cutter in a rectilinear path in and throughout the full length of the vein or seam operated upon by the cutter and receiver, the successive charges of cut material entering the receiver forcing out the preceding charges therefrom.

13. A machine of the cla-ss specified, comprising a tubular receiver having a iront fully open inlet end provided With an open cutter mounted and rotatable therearoundl and through Which cut mate-rial passes into the receiver, conveying` means connected to the receiver and including an endess conveying ybelt onto which the cut material from the receiver is continuously discharged during the cutting operation, and means; for causing the tubular receiver and the conveying means to move rectilincarly relatively to the longitudinal direction ot a vein of material to be cut and cause the receiver and cutter to progressively move in the vein in a straight line.

let. A machine of the class specified, co1nprising supporting means a receiver with an open end having a cutting means mounted on said end and forming` part of the receiver, supportingmeans for the receiver, nieans kfor longitudinally projecting and retracting the receiver relatively to the supporting means, and means for moving the receiver and supporting means rectilinearly in relation to the material to be operated upon, the adjustment of the receiver relatively to the supporting means being effected While the latter is at rest.

l5. A machine of the class specified, comprising' supporting means, a receiver hav-` ing cutting mechanism and associated with said supporting means, means for longitudinally projecting the material carrying receiver outwardly from vor retracting it in relation to the supporting means to out lll) with cutting means, and means for moving f the-supporting means, conveyor and receiver as a unit rectilinearlygin relation to the material'to be cut, the conveyor and receiver beingadjustable relatively to the supporting means while the latter'is in a position ot' rest.

17. A. machine of the class specified, comprising a hopper, a conveyor extending 'from one side oi the hopper and adjustable longitudinally inwardly and outwardly with relation to the latter, a. material-carrying receiver fixed on the' outer extremity of the conveyor and having an open end provided with cutting mechanism movable thereon,

and means t'or moving the supporting means,

conveyor and receiver as a unit rectilinearly with relation to the material to be cut, theV conveyor -and receiver beingy adjustable relatively to the hopper while the latter is at rest.`

18. A machine of the class specified, comprising'a hopperprovided with track wheels andalso having means for discharging the contents of the same therefrom, aV conveyor adjustably mounted on one side oi the hopper and longitudinally movable inwardly trom and outwardly towards the hopper side and material to be cut and having a receiver 'fixed on the outer extremity thereotl and provided with cutting mechanism on one end thereof, and means for moving the hopper, conveyor and receiver unit in a straight line relatively to the material 'to be cut andV also for causing the material cut to be discharged by the conveyor .into the hopper regularly duringthe cutting operation, the conveyor and receiver being longitudinally movable with relation to the vhopper while the latter is at rest.

n 19. A machine of the class specified, comprising a receiving hopper having means for discharging the contents thereot from one end, aconveyor movably Aassociated with one side of the hopper and longitudinally adjustable inwardly and outwardly to modity the extent thereoic with relation to lsaid hopper side, the conveyor having a tubular enclosing receiver Afixed on its outer extremity and provided with an open end around which cutting mechanism is operatively disposed, Vand means for moving the hopper, conveyor and receiver on the outer end ot the latter as a unit in a straight line relatively Vto the material to be cut,'the adjustment ot the conveyor relatively to the'side ot the hopperbeing effected while the hopper Y .is at rest. Y.

20. A machine ot theV class specified,com

prising a hopper mounted Von trackwheels and having means tor discharging the-contents thereof at one end ot the same, conveyor freely slidable in a straight line inwardly and outwardly with relation to one side ot the hopper and also vertically movable to adjust the same to different elevations, lan enclosing receiver having one openend ixed on the outer extremity ot the conveyor and provided Vwith cutting'mechanism on and operable around said/open end, and means for moving the hopper', conveyor and receiver as a unit in a straight line relatively to a vein from which material is to be cut.

- 21. A. machinepot the class specified, comprising a hopper mounted. ontrack wheels and carrying motor and shaft mechanism geared to a part of the track wheels, aV conveyor adjustable longitudinally inwardly and outwardly in relation to and carried by one side of the hopper andhaving a tubular enclosing receiver iixed on its outer extremity with one open end, the open end ot the receiver being provided with cutting mecha- Vnism movable therearound, mechanical oper-V ating devices interposed between the said shaft and conveyor for controlling the adjustment ot the latte'rand operable independently ot the same ttor operating a part of the track wheels, and ainotor mechanism andconnections between the same and the cutting` mechanism for independently starting and stopping the operation of the said cutting mechanism.

In testimony whereotl aiiix my signature.

FRANCIS K. HOLMESTED. 

